worn out the mute button on my own television. itisrazortightraceright now. both sides are claiming they have the edge. i talked with ohio senator robb portman, a republican, leading surrogate for the romney team. about how things are shaping up for governor romney eight days away. senator portman, good morning. >> good to be with you again. bill: on sunday you said we're about dead-even in ohio. that would mean governor romney is trailing. is that the case in this state today? >> no. i think it is a sty right now and i think momentum is on our side. in the polling before the debates we were down five or 10 points and we've had a steady movement our way ever since. poll came out on sunday i was referencing showed the race to be dead-even, tied at 49-49. that same poll only a few weeks ago showed us five points down. energy and enthusiasm is on our side. our folks are work harder than ever. grass-roots movement is harder than ever and momentum in is our direction which you always like. bill: in 2004 president bush beat senator kerry by 118,000 votes? is that the model fo

are four important electoral votes because this race issorazortight, alex.president obama won this state in 2008 and hasn't seen some of the same effects of the economic downturn as other states in fact the unemployment rate here is at 5.7%. it's far below the national average. but of course mitt romney has a home in this state. he was governor of neighboring massachusetts. so he carries a lot of weight here in this state as well. i expect from president obama takes the podium later on this afternoon you will hear him continue his message to middle class voters trying to make the case that he is the candidate to best preserve the interests of middle class voters and also to sort of reiterate what you heard in that commercial that you ran a little bit earlier on which is that mitt romney has sort of shifted some of his opinions, moved further to the middle to try and shore up votes. that's one of president obama's key messages right now. alex, i can tell you this race here in new hampshire is essentially in a deadlock with the president holding onto a narrow lead. >> i'll tell

to be and when it is going to hit. also we're live in the presidential campaign trail with theracerazortightandelection day ten days away. we'll find out how the weather is affecting campaign plans down the wire. also at one time adult film star turned public school teacher goes to court to get her job back. this morning we'll hear her emotional plea to get a second chance. >>> and justin timberlake has only been married a week and already is saying i'm sorry. we'll tell you why. it's all when we get started on a saturday morning right here on "today." for now back to you in washington might have something to do with meet loaf, huh? >> i think so. by the way, i'll see you guys. i'm doing to do "nightly news" from washington tonight in your studio. >> great. >> we'll see you here. thanks so much. >>> all right. weather wise we continue to talk about sandy. it's going to be for several days. >> this is not going to be an in and out kind of storm. this is going to be a come and stay and visit for a while kind of storm. we'll talk about your weekend and the rather scary looking week ahead for

they say. you can make up your own mind. pollingisrazortight. edrollins, how fast is our national debt growing today. this is unheard of. we'll show you the numbers. and the victims of fort hood they wanted an answer. we'll see you in ten minutes. [ a and i quit smoking with chantix. when the doctor told me that i could smoke for the first week... i'm like...yeah, ok... little did i know that one week later i wasn't smoking. [ male announcer ] along with support, chantix is proven to help people quit smoking. it reduces the urge to smoke. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serus allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. if you